S    F 

967 

B17 

A7 

1898 

BIOS 


History, Cause  &  Treatmen 
Archibald 


-NRLF 


. 
in 

CO 


o 


TEXAS  FEVER. 


[Its  History,  Cause  and  Treatment. 


A  Paper    Kead    Before  a  Meeting    of  -the  California 
•Veterinary  Medical  Association,  Dec.   13th,  1898,  by  I>r. -i^.'A.. 

•Archibald,    Oakland,    Cal.,  Veterinarian  to  the  State  Board   of 
lip'* 
•Health;  Member    and  Secretary  of  the  State  Veterinary  Medical 

*^ 

•Board;  Member  and  President  of  the  California  State  Veterinary 
•Medical    Association;     Member     of    the     American     Veterinary 

•nCAjliAAl 


Health, 


Association; 
Etc. 


Bacterologist  to    the    Oakland    Board    of 


A  great  variety   of  names  have  been 
•given  to  this  disease,  such  as   Southern 

[cattle  fever,  splenetic  fever,  Spanish  cat- 

• 
•tie  fever,  Texas  cattle  fever,   Carolina 

•cattle  distemper,  bloody  murrain,  Mexi- 

—    T«JI««       ~*.ii.,   ,]!«A.       .     j:~i.~ _ 


and  have  continued  to  die  in  numbers 
proportional  to  the  movement  and  num- 
ber of  cattle  involved. 

This  occurred  about  the  beginning  of 
the  eighteenth  century.  Carolina  cat- 
tle were  infected  from  Florida  or  Cuban 
cattle,  Virginia  cattle  were  infected  by 
Carolina  cattle  and  by  cattle  introduced 
by  coastwise  traders  who  traded  be- 
tween Cuba  and  other  West  Indian 
Islands  and  the  Main. 

As  the  Spanish  cattle  spread  over 
Texas,  and  when  the  great  markets  of 
the  north  began  to  require  meat,  the 
Texas  cattle  were  driven  over  trails 
northward  and  spread  the  disease  along 
their  route.  The  disease  from  these  cen- 
ters gradually  spread  unhindered  by 
law  or  man,  until  it  was  checked  by  the 
laws  of  nature,  which  restricted  the 
distribution  of  the  disease. 

The  Spanish  invader  on  the  continent 
lico  and  California,  and  the  North  Euro-  l  was  responsible  for  many  things,  but 


•can  or  Indian  cattle  disease,  distemper, 
|red  water,   haematuria,    splenic  fever, 
haemaglobinura,  tick  fever,  acclimatiza- 
tion fever,  etc.   I  am,  however,  present- 
ping  this  disease  under  the  name  of  Texas 
fever,  not   because  Texas   has  anything 
more  to  do  witn  the  malady  than   some 
of  the  other  Southern  States,   but   be- 
cause it  is  tiie  name  the  disease  is  pop- 
[ulany  Known  by. 

HISTORY.— In  the  16th,  17th  and  18th 
[century  this  country  was  colonized  by 
two  classes  of  people  who  brought  their 
cattle  with  them.  Those  of  you  who 
are  familiar  with  history  will  remember 
[that  the  Spanish  colonized  the  West  In- 
lies,  Florida,  Mexico,  Texas,  New  Mex- 


pean  nations  the  thirteen  colonies. 
The  Spanish  endeavored  to  push  north- 
ward along  the  Atlantic  Coist,  or  at 
least  to  hold  the  southern  advance  of 
the  northern  pioneers.  Until  the  cattle 
of  the  Spanish  began  to  mingle  with 
those  of  the  English,  those  of  the  latter 
prospered  and  multiplied,  but  after  that 
[northern  cattle  died  from  Texas  feyer 


could  he  have  planned,  as  diligently  as 
lie  did  inquisition  methods,  to  have  left 
behind  him  a  cattle  plague,  which  would 
harass  his  foemen,  he  could  scarcely 
have  found  a  better  means  than  by  dis- 
tributing this  disease  which  time  has 
proved  to  have  been  the  greatest  known 
curse  to  the  stock  industry  of  our  south- 
era.  States. 


2  TEXAS 

NATURE  OF  THE  DISEASE.  —  Texas  fever 
is  directly  due  to  the  presence  of  a  plas- 
modium,  or  more  correctly  speaking  a 
haematozoa,  an  organism  that  lives 
within  the  red  blood  corpuscles  and 


•  ;:br*eaks  tltejA  :uj>  &d  destroys  them.    It 
*wa*s  discovered  By  Dr..  Theobald  Smith 


FEVER 

somewhat  eccentrically  placed.  Careful 
focusing  under  the  microscope  leaves  no 
doubt  as  to  their  being  bodies  within 
the  corpuscles.  They  may  occur  singly 
or  in  pairs  or  very  rarely  three  or  four 
in  the  same  corpuscle.  When  cover- 
glass  preparations  are  dried,  fixed  and 


/•  •    j&«  l§g£  v.rho  ^ 


i.t  the  "Pyrosoma  j  stained   with  the  ordinary  analine  dyes, 


Bigemium"  on  account  of  its  pyroform  the  intra-globular  bodies  stain  as  readily 
outline  and  the  fact  that  it  often  occurs  as  nuclei  and  bacteria,  and  hold  the 
in  pairs  within  the  corpuscle.  i  stain  with  similar  tenacity.  The  small- 

It  maybe  well  to  state  at  this  time  est  forms  then  appear  like  deeply  stained 
that  the  germ  of  Texas  fever  is  very  dis-  cocci  about  %  to  1  micron  (1-50,000  to 
tinct  in  its  origin,  mode  of  development  25,000  inch)  in  diameter,  situated 
and  attack  from  the  anthrax  germ  and  j  within  the  circle  of  the  corpuscle.  Oc- 
has  absolutely  no  connection  with  it,  in 
spite  of  the  misnomer  of  "splenic  fever" 
occasionally  given  to  Texas  fever  by 
those  ignorant  of  its  cause  and  dissemi- 
nation. The  germ  of  Texas  fever  is  pecu- 
liar to  the  Southern  States  and  cannot 
live  outside  of  an  animal  iu  the  Northern 
States,  whereas  the  anthrax  germ  can 


casionally  the  bodies  are  nearly  two 
microns  (1-12,000)  inch  in  diameter 
and  in  these  the  staining  may 
be  less  intense.  Besides  the  spheri- 
cal forms  ovide  forms  are  frequent- 
ly observed.  These  usually  occur  in 
pairs  \uthin  the  red  blood  cor- 
puscle. Still  another,  the  pear  shaped 


be  transplanted  any  where  and  can  thrive  |  form,  is  encountered  in  stained  prepara- 
on  mountain  peaks  and  marahy  bottoms,  tions  of  the  blood.  These  are  rounded 
The  germ  of  Texas  fever  does  not  belong  at  one  pole  and  pointed  at  the  other 
to  the  class  of  bacteria,  but  to  the  "pro-  |  and  are  described  by  some  as  being 
tozoa."  It  is  not  a  microscopic  plant,  drawn  out  as  a  short  filament.  These 
as  is  the  germ  of  anthrax,  but  belongs  forms  invariably  occur  in  pairs,  a  cor- 
to  the  lowest  forms  of  the  animal  king-  puscle  being  occupied  by  a  single  pair. 
dom.  It  kills  by  the  direct  destruction  Some  investigators  claim  that  .he  pair  is 
of  the  red  blood  corpuscles  and  not  by  |  the  result  of  a  division  of  the  single 
the  secretion  of  a  poison.  A  correct  ap-  j  body  within  the  corpuscle.  One  other 
preciation  of  the  difference  between  the  '  abnormal  form  has  been  described  as 
two  diseases  is  very  important  in  (  being  found  in  the  blood  and  may  w-.-ll 
regulating  measures  necessary  for  ;  be  mentioned.  When  dried  cover-glass 
their  prevention,  especially  as  it  has  is  stained  with  the  usual  analine  dyes  a 
been  claimed  in  the  past  by  those  ignor-  ;  few  red  blood  corpuscles  appear  as  if 
ant  of  its  true  nature,  that  Texas  fever  their  surface  had  been  dusted  over  with 


was  "anthracoid" 
The    pyrosoma 


in  character, 
bigemium    in    Texas 


minute  specks  of  coloring  matter.   Whe- 
ther they  are  due   to  anaemia,  improper 


fever  is  represented  by  peculiar  bodies  j  staining,   or  whether   they  are  connect- 
in  the  red  corpusles.  i  ed  with  the  life  history  of  the  parasite, 
In  fresh    blood    they  are    visible  as 


round  or  oval  bodies,  nearly  colorless 
from  Yz  to  2  microms  (1-50,000  to  1-12,- 
000  inch)  in  diameter  on  the  disk  of  the 
red  blood  corpuscles,  and  are  usually 


remains  to  bd determined  experimently. 
As  to  the  relative  number  of  parasites 
in  the  different  parts  of  the  body  of  the 
same  animal,  it  may  be  stated  that 
about  20  per  cent  of  the  red  blood  cor- 


TEXAS     FEVER 


puacles  in  the  blood  of  the  superficial 
circulation  containing  the  parasite  in 
acute  cases,  while  about  80  per  cent  of 
the  corpuscles  in  the  kidneys,  spleen, 


we  can  realize  what  a  task  is  imposed  on 
the  excretory  organs  in  disposing  of  the 
waste  products  due  to  the  wholesale  des- 
truction ot  red  blood  corpuscles,  the  re- 


iiver  and    heart  (right  Ventricle)  con-  j  mains,  as  it  were  of  the  destroyed  cor- 


tains  the  intra-globular  bodies. 
This  organism  does   not  belong  to  the 


puscles  and  their  coloring   matter  must 
either  be  converted  into  bile  or  execre- 


class  of  diseases  producing  organism  ted  unchanged.  The  natural  result  of 
known  as  bacteria  but  to  the  class  known  |  the  effort  to  excrete  this  material  by 
as  micro-parasites  or  protozoa.  So  many  I  the  liver  is  extensive  disease  of  that 
people  have  got  into  the  habit  of  class-  j  organ. 

ing  this  disease  in  the  same  category  The  bile  secreted  by  the  liver  contains 
with  anthrax,  when  the  fact  is  that  if  8O  much  8olid  debris  that  U  occlude8 
we  omit  the  note  mortem  symptoms  of  the  bile  capillaries,  this  in  time  inter- 
the  affected  animal,  no  similaritv  what-  fere8  with  the  ™trition  °f  the  liver  and 
ever  exists.  This  is  a  point  that !  ^tty  degeneration  is  the  result,  conse- 
should  receive  careful  notice  as  it  is  of  ^aentl-v'  the  PM'-'logical  functions  of 


the  greatest  importance  when  we  come 
to  the  consideration  of  methods  toward 
the  eradication  and  control  of  these  two 
diseases. 

This  organism  multiplies  with  great 
rapidity  in  the  blood  causing  an  enor- 
mous destrnction  of  red  blood  corpuscles 
in  a  few  days.  For  instance,  during 
health,  there  are  about  5,500,000  red 
blood  corpuscles  in  a  cubic  millimeter 
of  blood,  but  in  Texas  fever  actual  count 
shows  that  the  ravages  of  this  organism 
reduces  the  number  as  low  as  1,500,000 
at  which  point  the  animal  usually  dies. 
Or  to  put  it  in  another  form,  according 
to  experimental  determination  by  the 
U.  S.  Bureau  of  Animal  Industry  which 
consists  in  counting  the  number  of  cor- 
puscles in  a  given  quantity  of  blood  from 
day  to  day  in  an  animal  affected  with 
this  disease  in  the  acute  form,  shows 


the  liver  are  suspended.  The  kidneys 
are  the  organs  where  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  corpuscles  contain  the  parasite; 
as  a  consequence  ereat  destruction  of 
corpuscles  take  place  in  these  organs, 
hence  the  reason  of  the  blood  colored 
urine  in  these  cases  due  to  the  hemo- 
globin of  the  destroyed  blood  corpuscles, 
this  condition  is  so  constant  in  cases  of 
Texas  fever  that  it  may  almost  be  con- 
sidered as  pathognomonic. 

That  the  cause  of  Texas  fever  is  the 
above  mentioned  red  blood  corpuscle 
estroying  micro-organism,  there  jan  be 
no  possible  doubt  as  its  presence  in  the 
Llood  ot  affected  animals  can  be  always 
demonstrated.  The  evidence  in  support 
of  this  statement  may  be  briefly  sum- 
marized as  follows: 

1st. — That  microscopicol  examinations 
show  the  constant  presence  of  the  micro- 
parasite  in  the  red  blood  corpuscles  of 


that  the  corpuscles  contained   in  from  i  infectuous  southern  cattle. 


five  to  ten  pounds  of  blood  may  be  des- 
troyed within  24  hours.   The  importance 


2nd. — That     microscopical     examina- 
nations  show   the  constant  presence  of 


of  this  is  apparent  when  we  realize  that    the  same  micro  parasite,  but  in  greatly 


in  a  steer  weighing  1,000  pounds  the 
blood  in  his  body  will  probably  amount 
to  about  50  pounds.  Reasoning  from 
the  above  facts  it  is  easy  to  understand 
the  manner  in  which  the  symptoms  and 
post-mortem  lesions  are  produced  and 


increased  numbers  in  the  blood  corpus- 
cles of  northern  cattle  suffering  from 
Texas  fever. 

3rd. — That  microscopical  examinations 
show  the  absence  of  the  micro-parasite 
in  the  blood  of  healthy  northern  cattle. 


4  TEXAS 

4tu§ — That  microscopical  examination 
shows  the  absence  notwithstanding  the 
result  of  BilHngs  investigations,  in  the 
blood  of  an  animal  affected  with  Texas 
fever,  of  other  organisms  when  the  ex- 
aminations was  made  previous  to  death 
or  very  soon  after. 

5th.— It  has  been  demonstrated  that 
the  intravenous  injection  of  blood  from 
infectious  southern  cattle  into  northern 
cattle  resulted  in  the  contraction  of  Tex- 
as fever  by  the  latter.  In  these  cases 
the  presence  of  the  micro-parasite  was 
demonstrated  by  microscopic  examina- 
tion. 
•MANEER  OF  TRANSMISSION.  —  In  the 

year  1889-90  Dr.  F.  L.  Kil borne  dem- 
onstrated that  the  transmission  of  the 
pyrosoma  bigemium  from  southern  cat- 
tle to  native  northern  cattle  in  natural 
outbreaks  is  effected  by  the  Texas  fever 
cattle  tick  (Boophilus  Bovis)  "Ox  Idv- 
ing")  and  by  this  means  only,  and  this 
claim  is  substantiated  by  the  following 
experiments : 

1st.— Northern  cattle  were  exposed  for 

.several  weeks  to  southern  cattle,  the  lat- 
ter being  infested  with  ticks.  Results  :— 
The  native  northern  cattle  contracts! 
Texas  fever.  Young  ticks  were  found 
upon  them.  The  pyrosoma,  bittemium, 
upon  microscopical  examination  was? 
•found  in  their  blood. 

2nd. — Northern  cattle  were  exposed 
to  southern  cattle  from  which  ticks  had 
been  removed,  the  ticks  having  been 
picked  off  by  hand.  Result:— Northern 
cattle  showed  no  signs  of  fever. 

3r(jt — A  pasture  was  infested  with  ticks 
taken  from  southern  cattle,  no  southern 
cattle  were  admitted  to  the  pastures 
Northern  cattle  were  turned  into  the 
pasture.  Result:  Texas  fever  and  death. 

4th, — Young  ticks  hatched  artificially 
from  eggs  laid  by  adult  ticks  picked 
from  southern  cattle  were  placed  upon 
northern  cattle.  Result :— Texas  fever 
and  death.  Pyrosoma  bigemium  dem- 
onstrated in  the  blood  by  microscopical 
examination. 


FEVER 

5th. — Experiments  were  made  showing 
the  disease  is  not  transmissible  by  means 
of  the  excretions  of  southern  cattle. 

The  above  experiments  have  on  nu- 
merous occasions,  been  repeated  and 
corroborated,  by  the  Bureau  of  Animal 
Industry,  Experimental  stations  of  Tex- 
as, Arkansas,  Missouri,  Kansas  and 
other  southern  states  situated  on  and 
below  the  Federal  quarantine  line,  sep- 
erating  the  infected  from  the  non-infec- 
ted district.  Consequently,  notwith- 
standing the  skepticism  of  stockmen 
throughout  the  south  we  are  absolutely 
bound  to  acknowledge  the  fact  that  the 
tick  is  the  sole  transmitter  of  the  pyro- 
soma bigemium  in  natural  outbreaks  of 
Texas  fever. 

THE  TICK. — There  are  some  people  who 
still  believe  that  the  tick  in  itself  is  the 
cause  of  all  the  trouble  and  that  the 
death  of  affected  animals  is  due  to  the 
abstraction  of  blood  by  them.  The  fal- 
facy  of  this  idea  appears  when  we  rea- 
lize that  the  ticks  ordinarily  found  upon 
cattle  dead  or  dying  are  still  quite  small 
and  have  scarcely  begun  to  draw  blood 
on  a  large  scale.  Moreover  if  such  an 
idea  had  any  foundation  how  can  the 
fact  be  explained  that  there  is  such  an 
extensive  destruction  of  red  blood  cor- 
pubdes  within  the  animal  bod}',  which 
is  demonstrated  by  the  presence  of  color- 
ing matter  in  ^the  urine,  the  thick  bile 
ami  the  presence  of  pigment  in  the  kid- 
neys and  liver? 

The  cattle  tick,  Ixodes  Bovis  (Riley)or 
Boophilus  Bovis  aa  its  name  indicates 
is  a  parasite  peculiar  to  cattle  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  United  States,  Mex- 
ico and  the  West  Indian  Islands.  It 
belongs  to  the  group  of  Artnropode  and 
to  the  genus  Ixodes  (Boophilus)  which 
is  included  in  the  order  of  Acanna.  Its 
life  history  is  quite  simple  and  easily 
traced  from  one  generation  to  another. 
It  is  essentially  a  parasite,  attaching  it- 
self to  the  skin  and  drawing  the  blood 


TEXAS     FEVER 


of  its  host.  It  is  unable  to  come  to 
maturity  and  reproduce  its  kind  unless 
it  becomes  attached  to  the  skin  of  cattle 
or  horses  whence  it  may  obtain  nour- 
ishment. 

The  eggs  laid  on  the  giound  after  the 
female  has  dropped  from  the  host  begin 
to  develop  at  once.  When  the  embryo 
is  fully  formed  within  the  shell  it  rup- 
tures this  and  gains  its  freedom.  The 
time  required  from  the  laying  of  the 
egg  to  the  hatcning  varies  considerably 
according  to  the  temperature.  In  my 
laboratory  where  the  eggs  were  placed 
with  some  moist  earth  and  grass  in  a 
fruit  jar  on  the  top  and  outside  of  the 
incubator,  at  a  tern  perature  ranging  from 
70  to  80  degrees  Fah.,  this  was  accom- 
plished in  22  days.  This  was  in  the 
summer  lime.  In  the  late  fall  under  the 
same  conditions  it  would  undoubtedly 
take  a  much  longer  period.  The  larva 
after  emerging  from  the  egg  is  very  min- 
ute, is  six  legged,  and  just  visible  to  the 
naked  eye.  If  the  larvae  be  kept  on 
mois*  earth  in  a  covered  jar  they  may 
remain  alive  for  months,  but  there  is 
no  appreciable  increase  in  size.  As 
soon,  however,  as  they  are  placed  on 
cattle  growth  begins. 

On  pasiures  the  parasite  soon  finds 
its  way  upon  bovine  animals.  They 
attach  themselves  by  preference  to  the 
tender  skin  of  the  escutcheon,  the  inside 
of  the  thighs  and  the  base  of  the  udder. 
Yet  they  may  be  found  on  different 
parts  of  the  body,  such  as  the  neck, 
chest,  ears,  etc. 

In  about  a  week  after  the  tick  in  its 
larval  stage  becomes  attached  to  the 
skin  of  cattle,  it  goes  through  the  pro- 
cess known  as  molting,  and  the  second 
or  nymphal  stage  of  the  parasite  life 
commences.  After  this  stage  you  will 
notice  it  has  four  pair  of  legs.  In  about 
another  week  molting  takes  place  again, 
when  the  tick  passes  from  the  nymphal 
stage  to  the  sexual  or  adult  stage.  Im- 


pregnation now  takes  place,  and  with 
the  development  of  the  ova  in  the  body 
the  parasite  takes  in  an  increased  quan- 
tity of  blood,  so  that  it  becomes  very 
much  larger  in  a  tew  days,  this  applies 
more  especially  to  the  female  tick.  The 
rapid  growth  of  the  tick  at  this  time  is 
mainly  due  to  the  large  quantity  of 
blood  it  takes  into  its  body.  When  the 
female  has  reached  a  certain  stage  of 
maturity  it  drops  to  the  ground  and  de- 
posits her  eggs  which  in  due  time  are 
hatched  out  and  the  above  life  history 
is  repeated,  provided  conditions,  climate, 
etc.,  are  favorable. 

iSouthern  cattle  sent  North  during  the 
spring  and  early  summer  carry  on  their 
bodies  large  numbers  of  ticks.  These, 
when  matured  drop  off  and  lay  eggs  on 
northern  pastures.  These  hatch  and 
the  young  ticks  soon  get  upon  northern 
cattle  which  happen  to  be  in  the  pas- 
ture, and  attach  themselves  to  the  skin 
when  they  inoculate  the  cattle  with  the 
pyrosoma  bigemium  and  fever  breaks 
out  in  fron?  one  to  three  weeks  there- 
after. W'hen  the  weather  is  cool  as  in 
the  autumn  this  period  may  be  a  little 
longer. 

When  northern  cattle  graze  upon  pas- 
tures over  which  southern  cattle  have 
passed,  tne  time  when  the  disease  ap- 
pears depends  upon  circumstances. 
When  northern  cattle  are  put  upon  pas- 
tures immediately  after  southern  cattle 
have  infected  them  with  ticks,  it  may  be 
from  thirty  to  sixty  days  or  even  longer, 
before  the  disease  appears.  This  will  be 
readily  understood  when  we  recall  the 
life  history  of  the  tick.  The  southern 
cattle  leave  onlv  matured  ticks  which 
have  dropped  irom  them.  These  must 
lay  their  eggs  and  the  latter  be  hatched 
out  before  any  ticks  can  get  upon  the 
northern  cattle. 

If  on  the  other  hand  northern  cattle 
are  placed  upon  pastures  which  have 
been  infected  some  time  before  with 
ticks,  the  disease  will  appear  much 


6  TEXAS 

sooner,  for  the  reason  that  young  ticks 
may  be  already  hatched  and  attack  the 
cattle  at  once,  in  such  an  event  the  dis- 
ease may  appear  in  10  or  12  days.  It  will 
be  easily  seen  theretore  that  the  length 
of  time  elapsing  between  the  exposure 
of  northern  cattle  on  infected  fields  and 
the  appearance  of  the  disease  will  de- 
pend entirely  upon  the  date  of  original 
infection  and  on  climatic  conditions. 

The  fever  always  appears  before  the 
ticks  have  matured.  In  fact  they  are 
still  small  enough  to  be  overlooked  bv  a 
casual  observer.  After  the  acute  stage 
of  the  disease  has  passed  the  ticks  begin 
to  swell  up  and  show  very  plainly. 

SYMPTOMS,  ANTE-MORTEM  AND  POST- 
MORTEM.— The  ears  of  the  animal  droop, 
its  movements  become  sluggish,  and  se- 
cretions retarded,  especially  in  milch 
cows,  appetite  at  first  continues  as  well 
as  rumination,  disposition  to  lie  down 
soon  makes  itself  apparent,  and  wher- 
ever pools  exist  the  sick  animal  seeks 
them  out  to  lie  in. 

A  slight  cough  is  sometimes  noticed, 
depression  of  the  head,  drooping  ears, 
arched  back  hollow  flanks,  with  a  ten- 
dency to  draw  the  hind  leg  under  the 
body,  and  knuckling  over  in  the  hind 
fetlocks,  are  early  and  very  marked 
Phenomena.  The  skin  seems  dry  and 
attached,  the  foeces  are  not  materially 
affected  but  in  some  cases  clots  of  blood 
are  attached  to  them.  The  urine  is  at 
first  clear  but  later  becomes  deeply 
stained  with  the  cololring  matter  of  the 
blood.  The  visible  mucous  membranes 
are  semewhat  anaemic,  but  a  hyperae- 
mic  condition  may  sometimes  be  ob- 
served, accompanied  by  a  viscid  dis- 
charge. The  mucous  membrane  of  the  | 
rectum  is  frequently  iniected.  The  j 
pulse  is  frequent,  in  the  early  stages  j 
hard  and  thin,  it  gradually  becomes  ' 
more  feeble,  and  in  the  later  stages,  as 
death  approaches,  it  is  impossible  to  feel 
it.  It  varies  from  sixty  to  one  hundred 


FEVER 

and  twenty  beats  in  frequency. 

The  thermometer  is  a  valuable  aid  in 
the  diagnosis.  The  temperature  is  the 
highest  at  the  commencement,  but  be- 
comes reduced  with  the  approach  of 
death.  The  temperature  of  the  external 
parts  varies,  frequently  the  poll,  ears  and 
extremities  are  very  hot  in  the  ac- 
tive stage  of  the  disease  at  other  time, 

j 

i  they  are  cold,  particularly  the   posterior 

extremities. 

The  respirations  frequently  rise  as 
high  as  100  per  minute,  but  in  thecoma- 
tosed  condition  they  are  slow,  deep  and 
labored. 

The  nervous  phenomena  are  very  mark- 
ed, tiembling  of  the  muscles  of  the  pos- 
terior parts  is  very  frequent,  as  well  as 
j  ot  the  neck.  Weakness  of  the  limbs, 
particularly  the  posterior  is  very  com- 
mon, so  that  many  animals  are  unable 
to  rise,  or  if  they  get  up,  walk  with  a 
feeble  and  tottering  gait.  Listlessness 
indicates  the  approach  of  the  end. 

The  state  of  the  secretions  is  usually 
indicative  ot  the  course  of  the  diseases 
perspiration  is  much  restricted,  oedema 
of  the  cutis  is  quite  frequently  met  with- 
The  urine  conta;ns  albumen  in  large 
quantities  when  haematuria  is  present. 
In  the  case  of  milch  cows  the  milk  se- 
cretion is  almost  if  not  entirely  suspen- 
ded. 

In  mo&t  cases  the  depression  increases, 
the  pulse  becomes  more  leeble  and  ac- 
celerated, respiration  is  labored  and  the 
temperature  falls  to  100  or  98  Fah.,  and 
the  patient  becomes  outstretched  upon 
the  ground  and  dies  without  a  struggle. 

The  course  of  the  disease  is  very  var- 
iably in  duration.  Death  may  ensue  in 
from  three  days  to  several  weeks  after 
the  beginning  of  the  fever.  Those  that 
recover  ultimately,  do  so  very  slowly, 
owing  to  the  great  poverty  of  the  blood 
in  red  blood  corpuscles,  The  flesh  is 
regained  very  gradually,  and  the  animal 
may  be  subjected  to  a  second,  though 


TEXAS 

light  attack  later  on  in  the  autumn, 
which  pushes  the  full  recovery  onward 
to  the  beginning  of  winter. 

In  the  mild  type  of  the  disease  which 
occurs  in  October  and  November,  symp- 
toms of  the  disease  are  well  nigh  absent. 
There  is  little  if  any  fever,  and  if  itnvere 
not  for  the  loss  of  flesh  and  more  or  less 
dullness,  the  disease  might  pass  un- 
noticed, as  it  undoubtedly  does  in  the 
majority  of  cases.  If,  however,  the 
blood  corpuscles  are  counted  from  time 
to  tin  e  a  gradual  diminishing  number 
will  be  found  and  after  several  weeks 
only  about  one-fifth  or  one-sixth  of  the 
normal  number  are  present. 

POST-MORTEM  LESIONS.  —  The  first 
thing  noticed  when  the  skin  is  cut 
through,  is  the  absence  of  blood  in  the 
superficial  blood  vessels.  When  the 
abdominal  cavity  is  laid  open,  the  first 
thing  to  attract  attention  is  the  uniform- 
ly enlarged  spleen  which  weighs  from  2 
o  10  pounds,  its  pulp  is  soft  and  degen-  j 
crated,  when  it  is  incised  its  contents 
are  found  to  be  pulpy  and  blackish,  and 
may  even  ooze  out  as  a  disintegrated 
mass.  The  markings  of  the  healthy 
spleen  are  all  effaced  by  an  enormous 
number  of  blood  corpusclas  which  have  i 
collected  in  that  oryan  and  to  which 
the  enlargement  is  due. 

The  liver  IH  larger  than  in  the  healthy 
state,  and  has  on  its  surface  a  pale  yel- 
lowish hue,  when  it  is  incised  the  yel- 
lowish tinge  is  still  more  prominent. 
This  is  due  to  the  large  amount  of  bile 
in  the  bile  ducts,  which  produces  in 
most  cases  degeneration  of  the  liver 
cells,  which  makes  the  organ  lighter  in 
color. 

The  gall  bladder  is  usually  found   dis-  { 
tended  and  filled  with  a  viscid  fluid. 

The  urinary  bladder,  invariably,  in 
acute  cases  contains  urine  which  varies 
in  colors  from  a  deep  port  wine  to  a  light 
claret.  The  kidneys  are  always  found 
congested  in  the  acute  attack. 


FEVER  ;   7 

The  lung,  stomach  and  intestines  are 
as  a  rule  not  diseased.  The  heart  us- 
•usally  shows  patches  of  blood  extravasa- 
tion on  the  inside,  usually  in  the  left 
ventricle,  and  sometimes,  but  less  mark- 
ed on  the  outside  suface. 

TREATMENT.— With  regard  to  the  cur- 
ative treatment  of  Texas  fever  very  little 
need  be  said,  as  so  far  no  successful 
remedies  has  been  discovered,  but 
should  any  one  desire  to  apply  treat- 
ment I  should  recommend  large  doaesof 
qunine  and  stimulants. 

Preventitive  treatment,  however,  is 
of  the  utmost  importance  and  is 
easily  considered.  When  we  recall 
what  has  been  said  with  regard 
to  the  cause  of  the  disease,  viz.: 
That  the  boophilus  bovi  or  cattle 
tick  is  the  only  medium  through 
which  the  pyrosoma  bigemium  can 
be  transmitted,  the  methods  towards 
the  prevention  of  this  disease  are 
easily  determined.  Kill  the  tick  and 
no  further  trouble  will  be  experienced. 

In  the  first  place  cattle  infested  with 
ticks  should  be  dipped  in  an  oily  solu- 
tion, as  the  oil  is  much  more  effective 
than  chemicals,  and  in  the  second  place 
disinfect  the  pastures.  This  is  much 
more  difficult  than  destroying  the  ticks 
on  cattle.  The  following  suggestions, 
however,  may  be  tried  with  a  reasonable 
hope  of  success,  but  of  course  only  ap- 
plies to  localities  that  are  permanently 
affected  with  the  tick.  That  is  to  say 
localities  in  which  it  does  not  get  cold 
enough  in  the  wint.er  time  to  destroy 
the  tick. 

Place  no  cattle  on  infested  pastures. 
Let  the  grass  grow  until  of  sufficient 
length,  when  it  may  be  mowed  and 
when  dead  and  drv  enough  may  be 
burned.  Let  the  burning  take  place 
when  the  ground  is  thoroughly  dry,  so 
that  everything,  including  the  old  man- 
ure and  decayed  vegetable  matter  may 
be  consumed.  This,  if  properly  done 


8.  TEXAS 

should  destroy  all  the  ticks,  but  if  not, 
the  ground  being  rendered  bare  and 
every  portion  exposed,  the  freeze  during 
the  succeeding  winter  should  complete 
the  work.  Hawever,  as  an  additional 
precaution  against  future  loss  we  would 
suggest  the  cultivation  of  the  land  for  a 
year  or  two.  It  might  be  sowed  to  oats 
or  in  some  small  grain  that  would  leav- 
a  stubble  that  could  be  burned  in  the 
fall,  thus  leaving  the  ground  bare  each 
winter  after  cultivation. 

When  the  pasture  is  an  enclosure  of 
woodland,  or  ground  unsuitable  for  cul- 
tivation, or  cannot  be  clipped  with  the 
mower,  all  that  can  be  done  is  to  en- 
courage a  vigorous  growth  and  burn  the 
first  opportunity  after  it  is  killed  by 
frosts.  The  leaves  from  the  timber  and 
the  grass  that  will  grow  on  the  spots 
where  the  timber  is  thin  will  generally 
be  sufficient  to  give  the  desired  heat  if 
a  suitable  time  is  selected  for  the  work. 
On  spots  so  bare  they  will  not  af- 
ford rubbish  sufficient  for  burning,  the 
hard  freeze  that  may  be  expected 
through  the  winter  will  in  all  probab- 
ility accomplish  the  desire  end. 

Lots  and  corrals  that  do  not  produce 
sufficient  growth  for  burning  may  be 
sprayed  with  a  mixture  of  kerosene  ami 
five  per  cent  naphtha,  or  ten  per  cent 
of  gasoline.  The  spraying  should  be 
sufficient  to  moisten  all  rubbish  and 
care  should  be  taken  to  get  it  well 
distributed  over  all  the  ground.  Imme- 
diately after  spraying  apply  the  match, 
taking  care  to  be  so  situated  that  you  can 
readily  step  out  of  the  way  of  the  flames, 
as  this  solution  will  burn  very  rapidly. 
Buildings  and  fences  should  be  looked 
after  and  such  action  taken  before  ap- 
plying the  solution  as  will  protect  them 
from  the  conflagration,  as  you  will  have 


by 


FEVER 

but  little   opportunity    to    make    sue 
arrangements    atter    the    fire    is 
started. 

Opened  or  enclosed  grazing  lands  ma 
be  disinfected  by  the  free  use  of  fire. 
the  farmers  and  stockmen  in  an  infect 
vicinity  would  unite  in  the  work  an 
prepare  for  the  protection  of  thei 
buildings  and  fences,  large  areas  coul 
be  burned  over  with  a  fair  prospect  o 
success  by  the  heat  occasioned  by  th 
burning,  or  by  the  action  of  the  frost  o 
the  exposed  surface. 

The  importance  of  disinfecting  th 
areas  cannot  be  estimated.  If  no  Btop 
are  taken  to  eradicate  these  parasi 
when  they  are  found,  some  of  our  terri 
tory  not  already  infected  will  become  so 
carrying  with  it  not  only  severe  loss 
death  of  animals,  but  a  material  reduc 
tion  in  prices  when  placed  on  tne  mar- 
ket. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  say  tha 
citizens  should,  in  the  interests  of  the 
cattle  industry  in  the  State  of  Calitoi- 
nia,  promptly  report  all  cases  of  sus- 
pected Texas  fever  and  then  unite  with 
the  State  Board  of  Health  in  prompt 
and  energetic  measures  for  its  control 
and  eradication. 

As  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  paper 
a  host  is  necessary  for  the  propagation 
of  the  tick,  and  as  ticks  do  not  trave 
far,  the  quarantining  of  infested  grounds 
would  probably  disinfect  the  ground 
after  a  winter,  but  the  burning  measure 
recommended  should  not  be  neglected 
when  it  is  practicable. 

If  horses  and  cattle  are  kept  off  the 
infested  pastures  the  tick  will  finally 
die,  as  one  of  these  hosts  is  necessary  to 
thpi  propagation  of  these  parasites.  The 
mating  of  the  male  and  female  must 
take  place  on  the  host. 


Compliments    of    F.   J.    SINCLAIR, 

"EDITOR    BUTCHERS'     AND    STOCKGROWERS1    JOURNAL" 
628    MONTGOMERY    STREET,    SAN    FRANCISCO 


(;aylord  Bros. 

Makers 
Syracuse,  N.  Y* 

W.  JHH.  21  jgog 


YC   14854 


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1460 


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